HICLASS: Enabling Development of Complex and Secure Aerospace Systems

The objective of HICLASS is to facilitate the development and in-service maintenance of secure, complex and large systems required by airframers, engines and other future markets. The HICLASS research project is a key enabler to the UK to build cyber-secure systems of the future – enhancing the UK's capability in high-integrity systems and software engineering.

This will be achieved by working alongside the regulator to develop technology and product roadmaps in a coherent industry approach to security. The project partners will then collaboratively and individually develop a series of complementary software and technologies to fulfil these needs.

HICLASS comprises four work packages, each led by an industry partner:

• Drive cyber-security standards and regulations for avionics
• Develop and mature a set of integrated advanced security, software and electronics technologies
• Integrate these technologies to demonstrate next-generation products
• Continue to reduce high-integrity software costs (through better tools and architectures)

The HICLASS research project, which began in July 2019, is led by Rolls-Royce. The project, which has a budget of £31.8m, will be part funded by 16 partners (see below) and the Aerospace Technology Institute, with Innovate UK providing management and monitoring services.

Rapita's goals for the project are to develop:

• A Multicore Timing Analysis Prototype
• An Automatic Test Generation Prototype
• Advanced Source code Analysis
• Integration of the Rapita Verification Suite with multiple platforms including MATLAB® Simulink® and Rolls-Royce's CaMCOA studio
• Zero-footprint software verification tooling

Who is involved?

• Rolls-Royce (Lead participant and project manager)
• Rapita Systems Ltd.
• AdaCore
• Altran UK Ltd.
• BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
• Callen-Lenz
• Cobham
• Cocotec
• D-RisQ
• General Dynamics UK
• GE Aviation
• Leonardo
• MBDA
• Thales
• Ultra Electronics
• University of Oxford
• University of Southampton
• University of York